Paul A. Smith | Outdoors Editor

MS sufferer completes canyon hike

Growing up on the rural edge of Greenfield, Dan Beck had freedoms many able-bodied Americans take for granted.

He roamed the woods and fields. He built forts. He learned to hunt. And he dreamed of other adventures he'd have later in life.

So when his health deteriorated and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002, Beck's initial reaction was focused on loss.

"I thought it was a death sentence," said Beck, 57. "I thought about everything I'd probably never be able to do."

Beck was able to continue work as a computer programmer at WorkWise LLC in Milwaukee.

But for several years after learning he had secondary progressive MS, Beck said his physical abilities were deteriorating.

Perhaps worse, he was losing hope.

Since he is an avid hunter, Beck is a regular reader of this column and other outdoors stories.

In 2008 Beck read a column in these pages about Don Christensen of Webster. Multiple sclerosis had left Christensen unable to use his arms and legs, but he used adaptive equipment to continue hunting from a wheelchair.

Christensen shared a story in which a friend told him, "You can't do things the way you used to, but what you do is a far cry from sitting on the couch and wishing."

Although he is a quadriplegic, Christensen created www.afarcry.info, a website devoted to helping other disabled people find solutions to their needs.

"It made me realize that I wasn't going to give up either," Beck said.

Beck started actively seeking therapists and programs to help him with pain and weakness in his right foot and leg, pelvic floor muscle weakness and balance problems.

And what's more, he started to dream again.

Beck's son, Matt, 36, of Scottsdale, Ariz., had made several hiking and backpacking trips in and around the Grand Canyon.

Upon seeing photos from one of the trips, Beck said "I really want to see that; I really want to try that."

It was a new expression of optimism from a man whose physical limitations had prevented him in recent years from scaling the ridges of his beloved Richland County deer hunting haunts.

Early last year, Beck began to formulate plans for a backpacking trip into the canyon of the Havasu River. The area is famous for its red rocks and blue water.

The trip was scheduled for March 2013. It would include Beck's sons Matt and Nate, 37, of West Allis.

Beck started training but had several setbacks. Pain and weakness in his right leg caused him to drag his right foot. Physical therapy helped improve his flexibility and core muscle strength.

After months of treatment, Beck reached a milestone last November when he was able to walk with increased stability and without pain.

After the 2012 deer hunting season he hit the treadmill several times a week for up to one hour at a time. He then added 6 degrees of incline. Next he began using an elliptical trainer. And finally he started walking in Greenfield and Muskego parks, carrying a 35-pound backpack. He was able to do a 6-mile route in 2 hours.

"To tell you the truth, I didn't think I'd ever again carry a backpack 10 feet, much less miles," Beck said.

In early March, the three Becks rendezvoused in Arizona and began the adventure. The first day covered 10 miles, down steep switchbacks and into a wash to a campground along the Havasu River. Beck carried a 47-pound pack. He used hiking poles to help with his balance.

Beck's hips locked up. He developed severe blisters. He fell several times. But he made it.

"We took plenty of breaks," Beck said. "I was exhausted, but happy."

After setting up camp, they hiked to a waterfall and swam in the cool, clear water.

The next day they hiked along the river and did some more swimming. On the third day, they hiked out.

Again, Beck battled his limitations. Nate became skilled at massaging and working tightness out of his father's hips and joints. There was more than one on-trail session of physical therapy.

After 6 ½ hours, the trio made it out of the canyon.

Beck recalls standing on the rim as a mixture of pain, beauty, exhaustion, elation and teamwork.

"Taking the trip with my dad was an awesome experience," Nate said. "I have always admired my dad, and being there with him when he made it to the bottom of the canyon and back to the top was priceless. I know that my dad will not let this disease defeat him."

Following the trip, Beck took several weeks off from training to let blisters on his feet heal and allow his muscles to recover.

Beck's next goal is to participate in the Walk MS fundraiser Sunday along Milwaukee's lakefront.

He will be part of a team organized by WorkWise LLC.

The 3.3 miles will be challenging but doable.

And after the fundraiser, Beck said he is going to start to plan his next adventure.

Fishing opener: It was snowing Wednesday across much of northern Wisconsin, and many lakes in the region still had more than a foot of ice. But it was all systems go for the Governor's Fishing Opener on Saturday. The event will be hosted at Lakewoods Resort on Lake Namakagon near Cable.

Gov. Scott Walker is scheduled to make an appearance Friday evening at opening ceremonies and to fish on Saturday morning at an area lake or river. At midweek, planning was more fluid than area water bodies, but it could be the first year in the history of the event that the governor will ice fish on the opener. Waters in the southern half of the state were ice-free, warming and according to most reports in "great shape" for Saturday, the first day of the 2013 game fishing season on most Wisconsin lakes and rivers.

Mueller walk: Bill Mueller of Milwaukee is eight days into his “Long Walk for the Birds” across Wisconsin. After starting in Belgium on the Lake Michigan shore April 24, he made it to Eagle on Thursday and was heading south and west on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Mueller has recorded 83 species of birds. The walk is a fundraiser for the Great Wisconsin Birdathon. To pledge or for more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/bqjxrgk.

First shooting incident of turkey season: A turkey hunter was hospitalized in good condition after being injured Tuesday morning in a shooting incident in St. Croix County. Jerry Cusick, 53, of Stillwater, Minn. was struck by shotgun pellets while scouting a hunting spot on private land near Somerset. The shooter was identified as Anthony Cardarelli, 27, of White Bear Lake, Minn. Cusick suffered injuries to his neck, face, head and shoulder. He was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. The shooting is under investigation.

“At this point, we have no indication (Cardarelli) was trying to harm Cusick,” St. Croix County Sheriff John Shilts told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “He thought what he was shooting was a turkey.” Tuesday was the last day of the third time period of the Wisconsin spring turkey hunting season. The fourth period began Wednesday. The incident was the first during the 2013 Wisconsin spring turkey hunting season, according to DNR recreational safety warden Bill Yearman.

Last year there were three shooting incidents during the six-week season, including one self-inflicted fatality.